| Author |
Topic: George L cables |
Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 6:56 am |
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| How do you clip the ends and put the jack back on to make them work? |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 May 2012 7:29 am
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Using a new pair of wire cutters works (or old ones that you haven't used as tin snips and are still sharp) the best for me. GL cords and plugs are very frustrating to build if you don't get a good clean straight cut. I also found that taking your thumb and bending the shielding away from the core wire a bit, helps stop the shorting out problems I always had, especially with the right angle plugs.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 8:06 am
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The trick with them is to make sure that the center conductor is perfectly centered before you insert into the plug. If that center conductor is off to the side, it can miss the internal pin in the plug.
With George L's, it's almost a MUST to own a cable checker to make sure you've made a good center contact and shield/screw contact. George L's makes a handy little cable checker that every guitarist should own.
Brad |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 May 2012 8:43 am
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I agree, a cable checker is needed when working with George l's. You can do it hooking it up to guitar and amp, for example, but much easier with a cable checker. I have a Behringer (clone) cable checker. Along with 1/4" plugs it also checks XLR and several others. About the same price as the George L's and more versitile.
Behringer CT100 |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 May 2012 9:09 am
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I just use a VOM. The center connector thing is also important. I do find when I cut the cable, even with sharp cutters, the shielding pushes over into the area where the center conductor is and causes the short. I have always been lucky with getting the center conductor in the right spot, but that dang shielding...
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 9:10 am
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Right on Jack. I have that same Behringer cable checker too. That thing is a steal and a must-own. I had no idea they'd gotten so cheap.
B
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 May 2012 9:12 am
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What's the advantage of a cable tester as opposed to a meter?
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 10:27 am
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| A single edge razor blade is my instrument of choice when cutting George L cable. It always gives a nice clean cut. |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 10:49 am
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| Guys I've cut this chord 3-4 times so it's getting shorter and shorter and soon I won't have enough to work with ha ha! I took out a pocket knife and sawed it in two but I'm not getting anything. I don't have a checker but I don't need one. I'm just hooking it up to see if it works and so far nothing. Is it the way you cut the wire or the way you put the plug on that makes the difference? A step by step instruction would help me more than anything. Having a checker isn't going to make it work if the procedure isn't correct! |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 10:50 am
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| Roger Crawford wrote: |
| A single edge razor blade is my instrument of choice when cutting George L cable. It always gives a nice clean cut. |
That's what I use, too.
I also roll the cable as the blade cuts thru.
Then screw in the allen screw enough to dent the outer casing.
Take the end off, and cut the dented area of casing away.
Slide the end back on and line it up with the cut-out hole in the casing.
Screw in the allen screw, and that's it.
Here is instructions from GeorgeL:
http://www.georgelsstore.com/faq.html
I noticed there are also a few YouTube videos showing how to make the connection (do a Youtube search).
Last edited by Pete Burak on 28 May 2012 11:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 11:01 am
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| Thanks Pete! It's working now. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 28 May 2012 11:03 am
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Nice!
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Rick Kreuziger
From:
Merrillan, Wisconsin
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Posted 28 May 2012 2:54 pm
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| What's the advantage of a cable tester as opposed to a meter? |
We have the Behringer tester in our gig tool kit... a must-have IMO.
The advantage is you plug the cable in and can tweak it around to find any flaws. It'll show shorts or intermittent connections.
You can test various different cable types such as RCA, XLR, 1/4"...
I saved an expensive cloth wrapped cord for a friend that had a short several inches in from an end. Just plugged it in and worked the cord an inch at a time until I spotted the bad spot. Tough to do do without a tester.
Very easy and convenient to go through a pile of cords and know what you have.
I agree Brad, downright cheap for what it does.
No, I don't get a commission on cable tester sales.  |
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Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 28 May 2012 5:46 pm
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| Quote: |
| I took out a pocket knife and sawed it in two . . . |
try again using a sharp knife, huh . . .
~Russ
_________________
www.russface
www.russguru |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 28 May 2012 7:32 pm
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But Rick, I can do those same things (and more) with my VOM.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 29 May 2012 12:38 am
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| But Rick, I can do those same things (and more) with my VOM. |
But can you put it in your back pocket? 
For $21.95 I would rather get a CT-100 than have to carry around my $150+ Fluke meter. The CT-100 also has a Test Tone Mode so that you can make sure that an audio signal will pass through the cable properly or confirm that a mike cable is live. It can also check for phantom voltage on an XLR cable from a mixer among other features.
Another seemingly useless tester is the $30 Batt-O-Meter from Keith McMillin. Yes, you can do most of the tests with a DMM but the B-O-M is very handy. You can plug it into an FX pedal or active bass and it will tell you the voltage along with an estimate of hours remaining based on the current draw of the device. It can also test 1.5 and 9 volt batteries (you can select the type of battery for all of the tests: alkaline, rechargeable or carbon zinc.)
I had made fun of the device when it first came out but I eventually picked one up on clearance for $20 and became a believer. It will pay for itself if you use a lot of batteries in your pedals- I used to change them a lot before gigs "just to be safe."
I do believe that anyone playing gigs should have a basic DMM to check for voltages and proper grounding at an AC outlet- or to check a cable if you are not getting any sound out of an amp. 
Steve Ahola
P.S. So are people here using the GL cables for their FX pedals, or for longer runs? I noticed that they sell a larger diameter cable more like traditional cables.
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 29 May 2012 1:28 am
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| What's the advantage of a cable tester as opposed to a meter? |
A tester will check both conductors at the same time, very useful for finding intermittent connections. You can do it with a VOM, it's just slower. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 29 May 2012 5:45 am
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I use a sharp utility knife with a new blade and then push it down on the George L cord under a solid surface such as a piece of corian. It cuts very clean. For the straight plugs I push the cord into the plug with a slight twist and then tighten the screw to just below the barrel surface. I check with a multi meter for continuity and then plug into an small junk amp that has been on my work bench fo 30 years and touch the end of the plug and listen for the ground noise.
The right angle plugs are a bit tricky and you have to develop a feel screwing the cap in on the plug.
For rack leave in plugs the regular plugs are OK but for a jack that plug in and out the stretch George L with the knurled ends are easier to use.
Lenny |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 29 May 2012 6:44 am
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OK guys, that's the info I wanted. By the way, there are VOM meters that will fit into your pocket. I have to say in 41 years of playing, I don't think I have ever had to check a cable at a gig, but you never know I guess.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
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Posted 29 May 2012 7:04 am
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Stick one end of the plug into the amp and touch the free end with your finger, if you hear something it is working. Be sure to lower your amp volume first.
Some may say this might cause damage to your amp, so far after 40 years no damage to any amp here.
Just a thought.
Larry Behm
_________________
'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Stereo Steel amp, Telonics 15” speaker.
Phone: 971-219-8533 |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 29 May 2012 9:16 am
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| Larry, can't test a TRS plug or an XLR that way. You can do it with an ohmmeter, but a cable tester is much easier and quicker. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 29 May 2012 9:30 am
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I did not know the Behringer did all those tests. Looks like the swiss army knife of cable testers. I have an old DOD tester but it only indicates an open condition and doesn't isolate the dead lead.
As per Richard, a VOM is still a good tool for checking continuity on any of the wires. You don't have to spend a fortune on a Fluke or any other high end meter. A simple DVOM with a continuity alarm works well. I've been using a tiny Radio Shack pocket meter for years....and you can use it for things besides testing cables too. 
But back to the original topic, razor knife here too. Make clean square cuts. Make sure the cable is pushed all the way up inside the plug and tighten the set screw enough to break the insul so that it contacts the ground braid. Hook it up to your gear and try it before you get to the gig.  |
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Billy McCombs
From:
Bakersfield California, USA
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Posted 29 May 2012 11:05 am
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I bought this from Steel Guitar Nash. works great for George Ls.Not much bigger than a 9 volt battery.
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78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56 |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 29 May 2012 7:26 pm
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Billy I have one of those GL ones as well, but that Behringer tester looks good, and it will isolate the offending wire if you have a bad connection !
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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